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Kent's first flight was in September 2006. The flight was cut short and Kent used his parachute to land safely on the ground below. The flight preparation and ground crew was filmed and edited by Sky Pinnick of Rage Films in Bend, Oregon. While this unsuccessful landing may discourage some, it sent Kent back to the drawing board to try again.[citation needed]

Couch, a 47-year-old gas station owner, first flew 193 miles (311 km) in July 2007 riding a lawnchair elevated by 105 large helium balloons. Using amateur instruments to measure altitude and speed, a GPS device to track his location, and 5 gallons (19 litres) of water for ballast, he controlled his ascent by releasing water. The flight began in Bend, Oregon and ended in Union, short of Couch's goal of reaching Idaho.

Couch's flight resembled a flight by Larry Walters, who, in 1982, sat in a lawnchair that unexpectedly rose 3 miles (5 km) off the ground after he cut the rope tethering his lawnchair to the ground.[1]